The Opposition parties on Tuesday authorised the Congress to finalise a joint candidate for the election to the office of Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Opposition parties on Tuesday evening. The NCP pulled out of the race after it withdrew its candidate Vandana Chavan realising that the Shiv Sena will not back her despite “regional” considerations.
Even as the Opposition is yet to zero in on a candidate, the NDA leadership was making hectic efforts to mobilise support for Janata Dal(U) MP Harivansh. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar called up his Telengana counterpart K Chandrasekhar Rao and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seeking support for the NDA candidate.
The TRS, which has five members in the Rajya Sabha, is likely to extend support to the NDA candidate. Responding to Nitish Kumar’s request, KCR said he will discuss with party colleagues and take a final decision, an official Press release from Chief Minister’s office in Hyderabad said.
TRS sources said the party may extend support to Singh in the spirit of constructive and positive approach towards the Centre as KCR was keen to have the backing of the Modi Government in the interest of faster development of Telangana. After the recent meeting of KCR with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi earlier this week speculation was rife that the two were working towards a political understanding for the next year’s general elections.
Nitish shares excellent rapport with Naveen Patnaik, who many not have any issue in supporting non-BJP candidate.
At the meeting of the Opposition parties, suggestions for the name of Congress Rajya Sabha member BK Hariprasad came after NCP backtracked on the candidature of Vandana Chavan, when it became clear that she would not have the support of home State party Shiv Sena.
“Though the name of Vandana Chavan was discussed, the NCP was not too keen on field her. No other party also wanted to field their nominee, so the Congress was authorised to pick a candidate. All Opposition parties will support the Congress nominee,” said an Opposition leader after the third round of meeting for the purpose on Tuesday. The fourth is scheduled for Wednesday morning.
NCP leader Praful Patel said his party was reluctant to project Vandana Chavan as candidate if it was unable to get support from Shiv Sena and the BJD. Earlier, there were indications that the Sena might support the candidature of the 57-year-old former Mayor from Pune.
According to Shiv Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut, BJP chief Amit Shah called Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and asked for support.
The Congress with 51 seats in the upper house, earlier felt its candidate might face strong resistance from some parties such as the TDP, which, however, has now decided to side with the Opposition camp on this matter. The TDP has agreed to support a Congress “picked” candidate.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said BJP leaders, including himself, have contacted the Congress and other Opposition parties saying they wanted a consensus to emerge on Harivansh’s name.
With the NDA nominee likely to get support of 13 AIADMK members and six of the TRS, the decision of the BJD, which has nine members, will be significant. If the BJD backs the NDA candidate, his prospects will brighten in case of an election.